Rotary engine.



No. 829,853. PATENTED AUG. 28, 1906. T. DAVIS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED 11113.16, 1906.

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No. 829,858. 7 PA'TENTED AUG. 28, 1906.

T. DAVIS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 16. 1906.

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PATENTED AUG. 28, 1906.

T. DAVIS. ROTARY ENGINE,

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 16, 1906.

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A TTOHNE Y8 TERS c0, WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented Aug. 28, 1906.

' Application filed February 16, 1906. Serial No. 301,376.

To (LZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS DAVIS, a citi- Zen of the United States, anda resident of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State ofConnecticut, have made certain new and useful Improvements in RotaryEngines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in rotary engines such as are adapted foruse of steam or compressed air, and it is more particularly animprovement upon the engine for which I have received Letters Patent No.803,406.

My present improvements relate to the valve mechanism controlling theadmission of steam or air to the pistoncylinder, to the antifrictionbushing or lining for the cylinder, also to the spring-pressed packingfor the ends of the piston and to elastic or spring packing for the endsof the blades which are pivoted to and revolve with the piston.

The details of construction, arrangement, and operation are ashereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Figure 1 is an end view of my improved engine. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation of a portion thereof. Fig. 3 is mainly an end view, the headof the cylinder being removed to show the piston and its attached partsand a portion of one of the blades which is pivoted to the cylinderbeing broken away. Fig. 4 is a central vertical longitudinal section ofthe cylinder and steam-chest, one of the heads being removed. Fig. 5 isa side'view of the oscillating valve controlling admission of the motorfluid to the cylinder. Fig. 6 is a vertical crosssection of thesteam-chest or valve-chamber. Figs. 7 and 8 are different sections ofone of the blades pivoted to and revolving with the piston proper. Figs..9 and 10 are different side views of packing applied to the ends of therotary piston. Fig. 11 is a side view of spring-packing applied to theends of the pivoted piston-blades. Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section ofthe piston. Fig. 13 is an end view of the piston proper, the severalattachments being removed.

The casing A of the engine is practically cylindrical and provided onits upper side with a swell or eccentric portion 2, in which is arrangeda valve 1, (see Figs. 5 and 6,) the same being keyed upon a shaft 3,extending longitudinally of the chamber and projecting at one end of thesame, where it is provided with a crank-arm 4. Such crank-arm isconnected by a rod or link 5 with the eccentric wrist-pin 6 (see Fig. 2)of a spur-pinion 7, that meshes with a large spur-gear 8, mounted on thepiston-shaft 9. The pinion-shaft 10 is journaled in a pedestal 11, (seeFig. 2,) and the adjacent end of the piston-shaft 9 is also journaled inthe same pedestal.

'As indicated in Figs. 1 and 3, the pistonshaft is arrangedeccentrically to the cylinder through which it passes. The valve 1 isapproximately segmental in form and is adapted to cover andv uncover anoblique steam-port 12, formed in the cylinder, and thus connecting theinterior of the same with the cylindrical valve-chamber. Steam isadmitted through the pipe 13 and passes into the cylinder whenever thevalve uncovers the'port 12. This occurs three times during each rotationof the piston, the latter being provided with three hinged or pivotedblades uponwhich the steam acts by impact and pressure. I I

It will be seen that the valve receives a circular reciprocating oroscillating motion. It is shown in Fig. 6 closing the port 12, and in 3it is in such position that the port is uncovered. The exhaust takesplace through the port 14 on the lower side of the cylinder into achamber 15, which communicates with a lateral pipe 16. (See Figs. 3 and4.) As in my previous invention, the several blades or wings 17 areconnected with cylindrical heads or shafts 18, which are inserted andadapted to oscillate in corresponding grooves 19, (see Fig. 13,) formedequidistantly at three points in the periphery of the piston proper. Inthe present invention the blades 17 are provided with segmental endportions, and the blades are therefore practically in cap form and fitover corresponding protuberant portions 17 a of the piston. (See Fig.3.) The blades are normally pressed outward, so that their free endsWork in contact with the inner side of the cylinder-lining by means ofspring actuated plungers 20.

I provide the ends of the blades with a metal packing 21, composed ofvery thin sheet-metal plates, preferably spring brass or steel, the samebeing essentially segmental in form, as indicated in Fig. 11. Several ofthese members are preferably employed, the same being placed one uponthe other in contact and their outer and longer edges projectingslightly beyond the end of a blade, as indicated in Fig. 7. The innersides of the ends of the blades are beveled or inclined, as indicated inFig. 7, and the packing-plates 21 are secured to such beveled portion bymeans of screws 22. I preferably apply a thicker metal plate 23 (seeFig. 8) over the inner edges of the packing-plates for holding them moresecurely and rigidly in place. It will be understood that their outeredges work in easy spring contact with the ends or heads of the cylinderA and that their angle enables them to slide easily over the surface orwith comparatively little friction while forming a steam-tight joint. Itwill be seen that by means of this spring-packing it is unnecessary thatthe ends of the blades proper should work in close frictional contactwith the heads of the cylinder, whereby considerable friction and wearare avoided.

In order to provide due extension of the ends of the packing 21, theends of the blades are grooved at the outer edge and the ends of thecylindrical heads or shafts 18 are also similarly grooved, so thespring-leaves touch the cylinder-heads the entire width of the blades,including their cylindrical. heads. The ends of the piston proper arealso cut away, as indicated in Fig. 12, to allow the blades to fitclosely thereon.

I provide packing for the ends of the cylinder proper, the sameconsisting of bars 24. (See Figs. 9, 10, and 12.) These bars arearranged in radial grooves 25, formed in the ends of the piston proper,as shown in Fig. 13 and as further indicated in Fig. 12. Each bar 24 isprovided with a guide-pin 26, which is adapted to slidein a socket orbore 27, formed in the end of the piston near the shaft 9. Ina largerbore or socket 28, formed in the end of the piston proper, is arranged aspiral spring 29, which presses outward against the packing-bars 24, andthus holds them in easy frictional contact with the head of thecylinder. Thus the packing-bars 24 are adapted to form a steam-tightclosure between the ends of the piston proper and the heads of thecylinder A and practically in conjunction with the blades they dividethe steam-chamber into three parts, since they are three in number andno steam can go past them. In other words, as each blade opens toreceive steam, as indicated in Fig. 3, a tight chamber is formed intowhich the steam is received. It is apparent that such chamber is formedwithout excessive friction and wear of the parts.

I provide the cylinder with a bushing 30,

(see Figs. 3 and 4,) the same being insertible and removable, and thusmade renewable at will. Its purpose is to save friction and wear of thecylinder-casting, thereby prolonging the life or use of the latter. Italso relieves friction with the piston attachments to a considerabledegree. The same is provided with a slot in its upper side correspondingwith the steam-port 12 and at its lower side with a port 1 1, thatcoincides with the exhaust-port before described. As will be understoodby reference to Fig. l, the bushing is made of slightly less length thanthe cylinder, so that provision is made for receiving the thickenedportion of the cylinder-heads which abut the ends of the bushing orlining. In one side of the inner wall of the cylinderlining there isformed a chamber, or, in other words, the cylinder-lining is formed on acircle eccentric to and smaller than the circle of the main body of thecylinder. Thus such eccentric portion is concentric with the shaft 9 ofthe piston and with the outer sides of the pivoted blades 17 whenclosed, as will be understood by reference to Fig. 3. This fea ture isillustrated and described. in my aforesaid patent.

What I claim is 1. The combination, with a cylinder, and means forcontrolling the admission of steam thereto, of a rotary piston arrangedeccentrically therein and provided with a series of pivoted bladeshaving their ends provided with spring packing comprising spring leaveswhose outer edges work in contact with the heads of the cylinder.

2. The combination, with a valve-chest and cylinder, and a rotary pistonproper arranged eccentrically in the cylinder, of a series of bladespivoted to and revolving with the piston, the same having their endsprovided with one or more spring-leaves which are arranged at an angleto the heads of the cylinder so that their projecting edges work inelastic contact therewith, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a valve-chest and cylinder, and a rotary pistonproper ar ranged eccentrically in the latter, of one or more bladespivoted to and revolving with the piston, and springpacking applied tosaid blades, the same comprising elastic plates arranged upon andsecured to the outwardly-inclined end portions of the blades, the edgesof the plates projecting beyond the ends proper of the blades andextending the entire width of the latter, substantially as described.

1. In a rotary engine, the combination, with a cylinder and a rotarypiston arranged eccentrically therein, of a series of blades pivoted tothe periphery of the piston and extending across the same lengthwise,and having movable spring-leaf packing-strips applied to their ends andprojecting into contact with the ends of the cylinder, as described.

5. In a rotary engine of the class indicated, the combination, with therotary piston proper having its ends provided with radial grooves, of apacking comprising bars arranged in such grooves and having guidepinsworking in bores or sockets of the piston proper, and springs pressingoutwardly against said bars for holding them in easy but than the bodyof the cylinder, and the heads 1o close contact with the heads of thecylinder of the latter provided With an inwardly-proas the pistonrevolves, substantially as dejecting portion which abuts the end of thescribed. f h 1 bushing, substantially as described.

6. In a rotary en 'ine o t e c ass indicated a cylinder having; anantifriction-bushing THOMAS DAVIS which is insertible and removable andpro- Witnesses: vided with slots for admission and exhaust EDWIN C. DOW,

of the motor fluid, such bushing being shorter GEORGE V. SMITH.

